Vertigo with my phobias/anxiety

[JamesAA]

Although I've had full blown agoraphobia for 3 years (even though the roots of the illness were there LONG before 3 years ago), as of this May there's a new manifestation of the disease.  Now I get this sort of vertigo like sensation when my anxiety goes up.  And it's NOT from increased heart rate or weird breathing patterns either.  

When I'm on benzos, like Klonopin, it's MUCH better or gone altogether.  But what about taking something else for vertigo, such as Phenegran??  Maybe this is a better/safer alternative to having to take a benzo everyday.  The thing is I can "push" myself so much more in my CBT drills if I do not have vertigo.  The vertigo is really the only thing that shuts me down cause when it's bad I can barely walk, let alone drive a car.  In other words, I don't think I will need to be on an anti-anxiety med like Klonopin if my vertigo was non existent.   And I'm guessing Phenegran is a better daily alternative to taking Klonopin or Ativan.  If that vertigo is gone, I can work on so many more CBT drills.

Any thoughts?  Or is anyone on Phenegran daily for vertigo that can comment?

Thanks,
James

[JamesAA]

Yes that's all true.  My ONLY reservation with Zoloft is that you need to wait 1-2 months before you can tell if it's effective.  And in the meantime you lose sleep and sexual functions--neither of which are good.  But hell, if nothing else works, I'll be desperate enough to try it.  I just wish I could find out quicker with it.  On a side note I find it so strange that a med like that would take so long to kick in, but I understand how it works so it makes sense....it's just so different, as most meds you notice within an hour or less.  

[nursegirl6572]

Phenergan wouldn't be the best choice for treating vertigo.  

Actually, the active ingredient in several OTC motion sickness medications (Meclizine) is very good for treating vertigo, the prescription version of it is called "Antivert, it is the most common prescribed med for vertigo.  That would be a good starting place.  Ask your doctor first, of course.

The idea behind treating the vertigo to decrease the anxiety is not a bad one, however, if the vertigo is solely a symptom of the anxiety...treating the ANXIETY would get rid of the vertigo, not the other way around.  See what I mean?

Your way of thinking is to treat the anxiety symtpom seperately, in theory it's not a bad idea, but I truly think that if it is caused by the anxiety, addressing the anxiety is the best approach.  Not to say you couldn't give it a try.

What ever happened with the beta blocker?  To be very honest...my concern for you is that you're all over the place, trying to think of a way to treat the anxiety, but every time your doctor offers an option, you never try it.

I understand you have anxiety about taking meds...but you'll never know if you don't try.  This could have all possibly been a thing of the past if you had tried the Zoloft.  I just think you're selling yourself short.  You can't keep researching ways to treat your anxiety and it's symptoms if you've never tried the LAST suggestion.  Ya know?

Pick something, and try it...THEN you can move on if it doesn't work.  Let us know how you're doing.